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Baked Ziti is a super easy dinner to make. You can cook your sausage and pasta and then mix them with the cheesy mixture and pasta sauce for a very delicious meal. Some might even say that it taste a little like lasagna but without all the work. Serve it along side some garlic bread and it will quickly become and family favourite.

Cheese Mixture
Ziti Before Baking

Ingredients:

  • 6 oz ziti or penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 32 oz marinara sauce
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese
  • 3/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Dash of crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt and black pepper
  • For garnish: chopped basil

Tips & Tricks:

  • Pasta: You can use either Ziti shaped pasta or penne pasta in this recipe. Make sure you cook it until it is al-dente.
  • Storage: Keep Leftover in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze: Before baking this dish in the oven seal the top of the pan with tin foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Remove it from the freezer 24hour before baking to allow it to fully defrost.
Baked Ziti

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Baked Ziti

This recipe is inspired by the book Scythe by Neal Schusterman. In the Beginning of the book a scythe comes to the home of Citra and her family. In fear that they might perhaps be gleaned they want to apease his every desire. Her mother is making baked ziti for dinner. The scythe thanks her since it has been so long since he has had such a nice home cooked meal.

Baked Ziti
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Baked Ziti

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Course: DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
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Servings

10

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Calories

422

kcal
Total time

55

minutes

Baked Ziti is quick, comforting and delicious. This dinner will have the whole family full and happy.

Ingredients

  • 6 oz ziti or penne pasta

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound Italian sausage

  • 32 oz marinara sauce

  • 15 oz ricotta cheese

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese

  • 3/4 cups shredded Parmesan cheese

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • Dash crushed red pepper flakes

  • Salt and black pepper

  • For garnish: chopped basil

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (you pasta packaging will advise how long to wait). Use a strainer to drain well. Drizzle pasta with a little olive oil and stir so it doesn’t stick together. Pour the pasta into a large bowl and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Discard the excess fat and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, basil, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add the ricotta mixture to the pasta. Add the marinara sauce, cooked sausage, and stir until combined, stirring gently to not break up the pasta noodles.
  • Pour the pasta into the prepared pan and top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and the pasta is bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired, and serve warm. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1, Calories 422, Total Fat 12.6g (16% Daily Value), Saturated Fat 5g (25% Daily Value), Cholesterol 98mg (33% Daily Value), Sodium 592mg (26% Daily Value), Carbohydrate 57.1g (21% Daily Value), Dietary Fiber 2.4g (8% Daily Value), Sugars 8.2g, Protein 19.3g

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